Taiwan's manufacturing output sees seventh quarterly decline

TAIPEI -- The production value of Taiwan's manufacturing industries totaled 3.2 trillion new Taiwan dollars (about $112 billion) in the third quarter of this year, down 4.56 percent year on year, according to the island's economic affairs department.

The production value of manufacturing industries in the island saw a year-on-year decline over the past seven consecutive quarters, said the department in a statement earlier this week.

Although the reduction has slowed down compared with the second quarter, Taiwan's manufacturing industries have struggled through the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly traditional manufacturers, the statement said.

Taiwan's traditional industrial products, such as petroleum, coal, chemicals, basic metals and machinery, have faced shrinking demands and price reduction in the international market, it added.

In the third quarter, the petroleum and coal industry's production value declined 40.31 percent year on year, while the figure for the chemical raw material industry edged down 21.53 percent and that for basic metals slipped 16.28 percent.

However, IT industries have performed well in the third quarter. The integrated circuit sector's production value increased 15.1 percent year on year and that of the electronic component industry edged up 8.79 percent.

IT industries are expected to continue growth momentum in the fourth quarter thanks to the upcoming shopping season in the overseas market and the marketing of the latest consumer electronic products. But, the possible resurgence of COVID-19 this winter poses high risks, the department said.